Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna provided the setting for a dramatic Scandinavian Vikings Vienna victory as the team delivered a composed performance to win the second round of the 2026 GCL Championship in Austria. Scandinavian Vikings finished on three penalties to collect all 30 Championship points, while Riesenbeck International powered by Horse Gym finished second on four penalties and Istanbul Warriors powered by Carpe Diem Equestrian Team completed the podium.
The victory marked a major turnaround for Scandinavian Vikings, who arrived in Vienna positioned towards the lower end of the Championship standings. Their three-penalty total proved sufficient to finish ahead of Riesenbeck International after Philipp Weishaupt and Klimister added four faults in the second round.
Jur Vrieling played a crucial role in the Scandinavian Vikings Vienna victory aboard Glyn Slam VDL. He produced a clear second-round performance in 76.92 seconds before Lara Tryba and Shot Gun followed with another faultless effort in 77.94 seconds. Their combined performance allowed Scandinavian Vikings to retain the three penalties collected in the opening round and secure the win.
Scandinavian Vikings Built Their Challenge in Round 1
Seventeen teams entered the opening 1.60m round at Schönbrunn Palace, with only 10 teams progressing to the second round. Riesenbeck International made the strongest start as Maximilian Weishaupt and Zuccero HV produced a clear in 76.39 seconds. Philipp Weishaupt then completed another clear with Oreo D.R. in 73.97 seconds, leaving Riesenbeck International without a penalty heading into the second round.
New York Empire powered by Lugano also completed the opening round without penalties. Michael Pender and Madgeslane Louis combined with Denis Lynch and Cordial for a total time of 156.24 seconds.
Scandinavian Vikings remained firmly in contention despite carrying three penalties. Lara Tryba and Shot Gun picked up one time penalty, while Jur Vrieling and VDL Mattias added two. Neither combination knocked down a fence, leaving the team within reach of the leading position when the second round began.
Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames, St Tropez Pirates and Riyadh Knights each carried four penalties into Round 2. Monaco Aces, Valkenswaard United, Istanbul Warriors and Basel Cosmopolitans powered by Les Trois Rois also qualified for the second round.
Prague Lions powered by Czech Equestrian Team and Madrid in Motion missed the cut after finishing the opening round on eight faults.
The second round then reshaped the order as teams attempted to protect their scores or recover lost ground.
Second Round Changed the Vienna Standings
Riesenbeck International initially maintained its strong position when Maximilian Weishaupt and Zuccero HV completed another clear round. The pressure then shifted when Philipp Weishaupt and Klimister finished with four faults.
Those four penalties moved Riesenbeck International to a final total of four, opening the door for Scandinavian Vikings to take advantage.
Vrieling responded with a precise performance aboard Glyn Slam VDL. He completed the course without faults in 76.92 seconds, leaving Tryba with the responsibility of preserving the team’s advantage.
Tryba handled the pressure successfully with Shot Gun. The pair completed their second-round course clear in 77.94 seconds, confirming the team’s three-penalty total and securing the Scandinavian Vikings Vienna victory.
The result gave Scandinavian Vikings the maximum 30 Championship points available from the stage and provided a significant boost to their position in the season-long competition.
Istanbul Warriors also produced a notable second-round performance. Abdel Saïd and Wathnan Calvaro completed a clear in 73.80 seconds, while Henrik von Eckermann and Hylanderhof’s Saruschrka followed with another clear in 73.30 seconds.
Their double clear lifted Istanbul Warriors onto the podium despite carrying eight penalties from the opening round.
Cannes Stars finished fourth on 12 penalties, while St Tropez Pirates and Riyadh Knights also ended the competition on 12. New York Empire, which had started the first round without penalties, dropped to seventh after Denis Lynch collected one time penalty and Michael Pender added 12 faults.
Valkenswaard United and Monaco Aces both finished on 24 penalties. Basel Cosmopolitans, meanwhile, saw their challenge end after Zascha Nygaard and Charino PS were eliminated in the second round.
Scandinavian Vikings Earn Maximum Championship Points
For Scandinavian Vikings, the Scandinavian Vikings Vienna victory represented one of the team’s most significant results of the season. The team arrived in Austria in 16th place in the Championship standings but left Schönbrunn Palace with the full 30 points available from the stage.
The result also demonstrated the importance of consistency across both rounds. Scandinavian Vikings did not need to erase their opening-round penalties in the second round. Instead, Vrieling and Tryba delivered two clear performances to preserve the team’s three-penalty total and move ahead of Riesenbeck International.
Riesenbeck International still retained the overall Championship lead after its second-place finish in Vienna. The team remained on 242 points, while Istanbul Warriors moved to 201 points. New York Empire stood on 185, Basel Cosmopolitans on 184 and Prague Lions on 181.
With Rome, Cairo and Rabat remaining on the regular-season schedule, the Vienna result added further significance to the Championship battle.
Tryba praised the atmosphere at Schönbrunn Palace following the victory and described the venue as her favourite LGCT venue of the year. Vrieling also highlighted Tryba’s performance under pressure, while Maximilian Weishaupt said Riesenbeck International were pleased to retain the overall Championship lead despite finishing second in Vienna.
The GCL Championship then moved towards Rome, where the next stage was scheduled for October 9–11. The remaining rounds continued the battle for Championship points as the teams pursued their season objectives.
The Scandinavian Vikings Vienna victory therefore provided a major boost for the team at an important stage of the 2026 GCL Championship. With Vrieling and Tryba producing two clear second-round performances, Scandinavian Vikings converted a three-penalty opening score into a 30-point victory at one of the season’s most significant venues.
The Scandinavian Vikings Vienna victory saw the team claim 30 GCL Championship points at Schönbrunn Palace after Jur Vrieling and Lara Tryba produced clear second-round performances. Scandinavian Vikings finished on three penalties to beat Riesenbeck International on four, while Istanbul Warriors completed the podium.
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